Immunization Warning - Ottawa Public Health

posted Oct 28, 2015, 8:49 AM by Tania Gonsalves

Since
April 2015, Ottawa Public Health (OPH) has been reviewing the immunization
records of 150,000 students attending elementary and secondary schools in
Ottawa to make sure the information is up-to-date. Updates on immunizations are
crucial information to protect the health of students during an infectious
disease outbreak, such as measles.

As
of early October 2015, the immunization records of 50,000 children in Ottawa
are still incomplete. Under the Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA),
students attending school in Ontario are required to be vaccinated against nine
diseases or have a valid exemption. Parents are required to provide this information
to school boards at kindergarten registration. Parents are also required to
report all additional immunizations that are done at the doctor's office after
kindergarten to Ottawa Public Health on an ongoing basis.

In
the months ahead, OPH will be sending letters to parents if their child’s
records are not up-to-date. A suspension from school may be issued if a
student’s record remains incomplete. Written notices will be mailed between
late October 2015 and early January 2016 and school suspensions will be
staggered between early December 2015 and March 2016.

Parents
who receive a letter requesting immunization information can contact OPH by
phone at 613-580-6744 or submit immunization information online, by fax, by
mail or by the ImmunizeCA app. Parents can visit
parentinginottawa.ca/immunization for more details about how to submit their
child’s immunization information to Ottawa Public Health.

OPH
will be hosting “catch-up clinics” for students who are missing required
vaccines and don't have a doctor. Students who provide exemptions to OPH for
medical or philosophical reasons are not subject to suspensions; however, in
the event of an outbreak, the child may be excluded from school while there is
risk of transmission.

If
you receive a letter from Ottawa Public Health, your cooperation and support to
respond quickly is very much appreciated. Your efforts will help protect not
only your child but will help ensure all our children are better protected
against infectious diseases.